The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 28, 2009
Filed:
May. 19, 2008
Graham Pearson, Great Chesterford, GB;
Steve Greendale, Cambridge, GB;
David Spreadbury, Harston, GB;
Graham Pearson, Great Chesterford, GB;
Steve Greendale, Cambridge, GB;
David Spreadbury, Harston, GB;
Plextek Limited, Essex, GB;
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention are concerned with a radar system, and relates specifically to scanning radar systems that are suitable for detecting and monitoring ground-based targets. In one aspect, the radar system is embodied as a scanning radar system comprising a frequency generator, a frequency scanning antenna, and a receiver arranged to process signals received from a target so as to identify a Doppler frequency associated with the target, wherein the frequency generator is arranged to generate a plurality of sets of signals, each set having a different characteristic frequency, the frequency generator comprising a digital synthesiser arranged to modulate a continuous wave signal of a given characteristic frequency by a sequence of modulation of patterns whereby to generate a said set of signals, and wherein the frequency scanning antenna is arranged to cooperate with the frequency generator so as to transceive radiation over a region having an angular extent dependent on the said generated frequencies. Embodiments of the invention thus combine digital synthesiser techniques, which are capable of precise frequency generation and control, with passive frequency scanning and Doppler processing techniques. This enables accurate control of range and of scan rates, and enables optimisation of range cell size for factors such as slow and fast target detection and Signal to Noise ratio, and thus enables detection of targets located at distances considerably farther away than is possible with known systems having similar power requirements.